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Pick Pony | Oct. 14, 2024, 9:36 p.m.
On the Whim closed with a flourish under Tiago Pereira to win his second stakes race in Sunday’s $100,000 California Flag Handicap, covering 6 ½ furlongs on Santa Anita’s hillside turf course.
As the 3-1 third choice in an eight-horse field, On the Whim and Pereira stayed in mid-pack while Fast Buck (2-1) and Diego Herrera set the early pace with fractions of 21.32 and 43.44 seconds for the first half mile. Approaching the dirt crossing, Pereira and On the Whim found clear racing room and made their move.
With Fast Buck continuing to motor on the lead, completing six furlongs in 1:05.13, On the Whim was making up ground to his outside. Fast Buck battled gamely to the wire, but didn’t have quite enough left as On the Whim surged past in the closing strides to win by a half-length.
Fast Buck, trained by Cesar DeAlba, held second by a neck over a fast closing None Above the Law (7-1) with Hall of Famer Mike Smith up. The final time was 1:11.54.
“I had a safe trip with no traffic,” Pereira said. “I put him in a good position and at the straight I asked him to push hard. He responded very well. It was a nice win.”
On the Whim’s trainer, Dean Pederson, was not at Santa Anita. When reached by phone, he said he was “under the weather” and watched from home.
“Maybe they run better when I’m not there and should try it more often,” Pedersen quipped. “But no, the horse ran well. He’s really maturing and has come into himself nicely.”
A 4-year-old gelding by Acclamation, On the Whim’s previous stakes win came Aug. 3 in the California Dreamin’ Stakes going 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar. He is now 9: 4-0-1 with $236,596 in earnings for owner-breeder Harris Farms.
In two previous tries down the hill, both against open allowance company, On the Whim finished sixth each time.
“Both of his previous starts down the hill weren’t as bad as they looked,” Pederson said. “The first one it seemed like he was about 12 wide going into the stretch. The second time he clipped heels and almost fell.”
On the Whim paid $8.00, $3.40 and $3.20. Fast Buck returned $3.40 and $3.20. None Above the Law, trained by Jorge Periban, returned $5.80.